Love worth fighting for: Three Aussie soldiers and a trio of Essex girls get their happy ever after in Oz

It has all the makings of a Hollywood hit. Three young Australian soldiers posted ten thousand miles from home fall in love with local girls, face a heart-wrenching tour of a war zone, and return to their homeland in glory - bringing their bright-eyed brides with them.

The trio of gunners from the Australian Artillery found love within weeks of arriving on a pre-tour training stint in Colchester, Essex and, after a whirlwind romance, the six are returning to Brisbane as couples.

The soldiers were among 15 gunners from the 105 Battery, 1 Regiment, Royal Regiment who moved to the army town in February last year
before a tour of duty in Afghanistan.

Long-distance love: The Australian Artillery soldiers found love with three local girls within weeks of arriving at Colchester Garrison - and now they're taking their girls back Down Under

Just weeks into their eight month stay, three of the soldiers had met local girls. But the lovestruck six were set to suffer: the men were destined for a six-month stay in war-torn Afghanistan alongside Colchester's troops.

Now though, with the men safely back in Britain, just one year after the fateful first meeting all three girls have agreed to join their men back in Brisbane.

And it must be true love. In their 12 months together, not only have the couples have already had to cope with six months apart, but further tribulations face the lovebirds on their arrival in Australia.

Much of the their new hometown of Brisbane had been washed away in torrential floods.

But as the saying goes, love conquers all. And despite - or perhaps thanks to - their youth, the couples are enthusiastic about their new lives together.

Kayleigh Straight, 22, a support worker from Colchester says being apart was hard - but she is now looking forward to moving to Australia with Gunner Michael Moon, aged
20.

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She said: 'It
has been hard not having him about but now he is back and it is
brilliant.

'I am really excited but also nervous. My family are sad I am going but accept it is something I have got to do.'

Gnr Moon added: 'My mum thinks I am too young, but is happy as long as
she is a good girl.'

Referring to the devastating floods that have ravaged his hometown he added: 'It was hard being away with what was happening in
Brisbane.

'My brother was there so I was worried about him, and they were
worried about me.'

Gunner Brendan Nikolajew rhapsodises about his new emigree: 'It was close to love at first sight,' he says. 'I was not planning on even going out the night I met her.'

His girlfriend Sarah Marchant, 20, from Mersea Island, admits that she is apprehensive about the move to Australia with Gunner Brendan Nikolajew, also 20.

'It is great having him back, she says, 'but I am a little nervous about going.'

The third couple is 20-year-old Sam Nugent, a support worker from Witham and her man, Bombardier Stephen Nicholes.

She said: 'We took things day by day while he was away and now my family and friends are pleased for me.'

And the love stories have had everyone talking.

Speaking during a medal parade yesterday while giving his thanks to the Australian 15, recently returned Brigadier James Chiswell, commander of 16 Air Assault Brigade joked: 'Some of you have enjoyed Colchester and are taking some of our country folk home with you.